London Marathon breaks world record with more than 1.1 million entries for 2026
More than a million people have applied to run the 2026 London Marathon, in what organisers say is a new world record.
A total of 1,133,813 people have asked to enter the TCS London Marathon on Sunday April 26 next year.
Organisers said the total shattered last year's world record total of 840,318 applications for the 2025 TCS London Marathon.
'This is an absolutely staggering total which reaffirms London as by far the most popular marathon on the planet,' said Hugh Brasher, CEO of London Marathon Events.
'Marathon Day is always an extraordinary and inspirational day when we celebrate the very best of humanity.
'The unique camaraderie of the event and the amazing support from the huge crowds show London at its best and this year was the best yet.'
Applications for the 2026 race have increased by 36% from last year and are nearly double the total for the 2024 London Marathon, organisers said.
There were nearly equal numbers of male and female UK applicants in the public ballot, organisers said.
The total number of UK applications for 2026 was 869,803, of which 49.87% were men's (433,775 applications), 49.55% were women's (430,983 applications) and 0.58% were from non-binary applicants (5,044 entries).
There were a further 264,011 applications from non-UK residents in the international ballot.
This year's London Marathon event also broke a Guinness World Record (GWR) for the largest number of finishers.
A total of 56,640 participants crossed the finish line, beating the 55,646 set by the TCS New York City marathon in November 2024.
Mr Brasher said: 'Breaking the Guinness World Records title for the largest number of finishers in a marathon, in our 45th edition, was a truly astonishing achievement.
'We also had a record number of children and young people take part in the 40th edition of the TCS Mini London Marathon the day before, when more than 15,000 children took part in the mass event on The Mall.'
Additionally, 41 other GWR titles were broken from 87 attempts, including a participant dressed as a traffic cone.
The ballot for the 2026 TCS London Marathon closed at 4pm on Friday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
20 minutes ago
- BBC News
'Dundee's off-pitch unpredictably never fails to deliver'
Dundee's unpredictability both on and off the pitch never fails to stun the football world.'Elvis' has entered the building and his reception is far from ideal from the Dundee support. The overriding feeling is Steven Pressley's appointment doesn't inspire confidence as his record is littered with sackings, and losing more games than he has won, before a six-year hiatus from Tony Docherty was dismissed for underperforming, supporters were expecting a statement appointment or perhaps something left-field with names like Temur Ketsbaia and David Healy there is more to Pressley than meets the eye. He ticks boxes that align with the role of head coach compared to the traditional football is experienced with over 340 matches as a manager and enjoyed a successful period in his last stint in Scotland with Falkirk. He has a proven track record in youth development, notably at Falkirk, where he helped develop Murray Wallace, Jay Fulton, Lyle Taylor and Stephen recently he was in the Premier League with Brentford, developing players to fit a very good team at the elite level - working with those standards at Dundee will hold him in good reputation among the players he's coached also seems positive. and Pressley appears well respected within the industry. He emerged as the standout candidate for both John Nelms and Gordon Strachan for good head coach model might very well prove to be a masterstroke. When you reflect on previous managers, a recurring theme emerges - flawed decision-making in recruitment and squad Hartley chucked away Martin Boyle, Jim McAlister and Gary Harkins, all on frees when they all still had so much to offer. The replacements weren't near the appropriate McCann had no plan B, while his foreign imports clearly required time they did not have to adjust to the Scottish McPake allowed both Leigh Griffiths and Jason Cummings to depart during a relegation battle, while remaining fiercely loyal to players out of their Docherty couldn't balance the young squad with experienced players and left us very light up front (Simon Murray is our only contracted forward).If Strachan, David Longwell and the recruitment team can take a weight off Pressley's shoulders and allow him to focus solely on getting results on the pitch, then this model will be an interesting development to watch fans are fickle. If Pressley gets off to a winning start he will win over his doubters. While they are upset at his winning record, they're also desperate for the new head coach to mend that with is hungry and has a point to prove. The fans will be satisfied once they can see this new set-up walking the walk instead of talking the talk. In other words, a little less conversation, a little more action please.
BBC News
20 minutes ago
- BBC News
Newport to face Torquay in pre-season
Newport County will face National League South side Torquay United in a pre-season friendly at Plaimoor on Saturday, 19 July (15:00 BST).Torquay finished joint top of the table with Truro City last season, but missed out on automatic promotion to the fifth tier on goal difference and were then beaten in the League Two campaign under new boss David Hughes kicks off on the first weekend in August.
BBC News
35 minutes ago
- BBC News
Isle of Man TT fans from Florida marshal after being 'recruited' on ferry
A couple on a "bucket list" trip to the Isle of Man TT from their home in the United States said they ended up marshalling at the event after being "recruited" while on the ferry and Cindy Wilkerson, from Florida, said they could not pass up the opportunity after speaking other volunteers on the crossing from as the orange army, a minimum of 563 volunteers are needed around the 37.7mile (61km) course before any practice or race session can go Wilkerson said: "They were recruiting for marshals and they signed us up, and now we've done five sessions and we're really enjoying it." "You do get a front row to the action but it's also being helpful."Mr Wilkerson said he first heard about the TT about a decade ago watching videos of 23-time TT winner John McGuinness on YouTube and had been keen to see it in person."We've just been watching and watching and watching, so this year here we are," he pair marshalled on the Sulby Straight for their second session, where riders can reach speeds of up to 200mph (321km/h)."It was insane speed. They go by so fast I couldn't even see the numbers on the bikes."The pair, who have been married for more than 30 years, also planned to renew their wedding vows during their Wilkerson said they bought a new ring in Peel and planned to exchange vows at Castle Rushen in Castletown before the end of their stay. But the American couple are not the only motorcycle enthusiasts who have travelled a significant distance to be part of the event. Craig Johnston from Sydney first came to the TT in 2007 for the event's centenary year as a witnessing the action first hand he said he knew he had "to come back and be a marshal".He said he had since made "some great friends" who he had "only met through marshalling". A former motorbike competitor in his homeland himself, he said the Isle of Man TT was "so unique"."The community welcomes you and appreciates you, the racing itself is spectacular," he added. Wolfgang Dohnalek, from Herford in Germany, is on the island marshalling for the third time. He said: "It's so amazing, you meet a lot of friends and we have a good time over here, so I must come back every year."The TT fan said he felt compelled to marshal at the event that gave him "so much", so that he could "give a little bit back"."To be a part of this great family, they call it the orange army, I do it with heart," he added. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
